Chrysanthemum plant named Dark Cherie

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Dark Cherie particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; dark purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 35 to 41 mm when fully opened, when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; very floriferous, with excellent display of many small flowers; photoperiodic flowering response of 51 to 52 days after start of short days; plant height, with 13 to 14 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings, and with 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 20 to 28 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot; branching pattern is spreading and prolific, each plant having 6 to 8 laterals after pinch; and recommended as a spray pot mum.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Dark Cherie.

Dark Cherie, identified as 4236 (89-114B03) is a product of a mutationinduction program. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by SusanM. Polys on Jan. 13, 1992, in a controlled environment in Salinas,Calif., as one flowering plant within a flowering block established asrooted cuttings from stock plants which had been exposed as unrootedcuttings to an X-ray source of 1500 rads in Fort Myers, Fla., on Jun. 6,1991. The irradiated parent cultivar was un unnamed proprietary seedlingidentified as 4207 (89-114003), and described as a daisy spray pot mumwith a flat capitulum form; a very light pink ray floret color; diameteracross face of capitulum of 32 to 48 mm when fully opened, floweringresponse period of 49 to 56 days after start of short days; plant heightof 18 to 25 cm with 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP when grown asa pinched pot mum in a 15 cm pot; and spreading and prolific branchingpattern, with 6 to 8 laterals after pinch. The parent cultivar has notbeen sold or offered for sale, or otherwise publicly disclosed.

The irradiation program resulting in Dark Cherie had as its primaryobjective the expansion of the color range of the parent seedling 4207,with the ray floret color of the parent considered to be too light forcommercial introduction, while all other characteristics of the parentwere considered to be excellent. The irradiation program comprisedirradiating cuttings of the parent cultivar at irradiation levels of1500, 1750 and 2000 rads. A total of 2470 cuttings harvested from atotal of 225 irradiated plants were planted on Sep. 9, 1991. Of these,37 initial selections were made, which selections were then revegetatedand reflowered. Three consecutive flowerings resulted in discarding 32of the original 37 selections on Jul. 1, 1992. Five selections wereretained and reflowered again, ultimately resulting in the decision tointroduce all remaining selections as Dark Cherie, Honey Cherie, SoftCherie, Sunny Cherie and Sweet Cherie. Applications are pending for theother induced mutations.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Dark Cherie was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in March1992 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by techniciansworking under supervision of Susan M. Polys.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Dark Cherie are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Dark Cherie has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Dark Cherie, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Dark purple ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 35 to 41 mm when fully opened,when grown as a pinched spary pot mum.

5. Very floriferous, with excellent display of many small flowers.

6. Photoperiodic flowering response of 51 to 52 days after start ofshort days.

7. Plant height, with 13 to 14 long days after sticking unrootedcuttings and with 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 20to 28 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot.

8. Branching pattern is spreading and prolific, each plant having 6 to 8laterals after pinch.

9. Recommended as a spray pot mum.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Dark Cherie, with the colors being as nearlytrue as possible with illustartions of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of a potted mum of Dark Cherie, with 4cuttings in a 15 cm pot.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of the Cherie series at three stages of development(mature, intermediate and immature). In sheet 2 a measuring tape incentimeters has been added.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Dark Cherie is the cultivar identified as Desiree,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,500. Reference is made to attachedChart A, which compares certain characteristics of Dark Cherie with thesame characteristics of Desiree.

Similar traits are capitulum form and type, branching pattern andrecommendation as a spray pot mum. Dark Cherie also has a largerdiameter of capitulum than Desiree, a slower flowering response, and ataller plant height, requiring less long days to reach a commerciallyacceptable height than Desiree. The ray floret color of Dark Cherie issignificantly darker than the ray floret color of Desiree. The range ofmeasurements of Desiree is much wider than the range of measurements ofDark Cherie, based on the fact that Desiree has been tested for a longerperiod of time than Dark Cherie, which has been tested for only ninemonths at the time of the application.

When compared with the parent seedling, all traits of Dark Cherie aresimilar to those of the parent, except for the color of the ray florets.When comparing the description of Dark Cherie with the description ofthe parent, it is evident that the parent seedling has a much widerrange of measurements than Dark Cherie. This is also based onevaluations over a long time period for the parent in comparison withthe short time period that Dark Cherie has been tested.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum in Salinas, Calif. onFeb. 23, 1993.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Dark Cherie.

Commercial.--Flat daisy spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--35 to 41 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Dark purple.

Color (upper surface).--70A to 70B.

Color (under surface).--78B to 78C.

Shape.--Straight, oblong, slightly ribbed.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14B.

Color (immature).--14B, center overlaid with 144B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; moderate pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--20 to 28 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 13 to 14 longdays prior to start of short days, with 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppmB-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific, with 6 to 8 laterals afterpinch.

B. FOLIAGE:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface) .--147B.

Shape.--See photograph.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        CULTIVAR        DARK CHERIE  DESIREE                                          ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                              Dark purple  Light pink with                                                               darker buds and                                                               underside                                        Capitulum form  Flat Daisy   Flat Daisy                                       and type                                                                      Diameter across face                                                                          35 to 41 mm  25 to 29 mm                                      of capitulum                                                                  Flowering Response                                                                            51 to 52 days                                                                              42 to 47 days                                    Plant height with                                                             13 to 14 long days                                                                            23 to 25 cm                                                   14 to 23 long days           18 to 25 cm                                      Branching pattern                                                                             Spreading    Spreading                                                        6 to 8 laterals                                                                            5 to 8 laterals                                  Recommended as  Spray pot mum                                                                              Spray pot mum                                    ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                           PINCHED SPRAY POT MUMS IN                                                     SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                                           ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Dark Cherie, asdescribed and illustrated.